The 40's. Misery and isolation: age of pioneers

After the Civil War (1936-39) the economic situation in Spain was a complete disaster, with a remarkable decrease in the work force. Not to mention the material destruction of a country which urgently needed an industrial recovery and which was not specially favoured by the economic policy followed by the government who implemented the self-productive system thus isolating Spain from the outer world with the purpose of developing a self sufficient state, but at the same time unable to receive proper technological aid. This situation was identical in the motorcycle industry.

Most motorcycles were confiscated during the war to move the troops around, therefore the very few remaining had virtually no spare parts hence they had no future viability. But it is also the time in which a brave entrepreneur, with a good technical background, realises the great need for transport at the time together with the great potential of the motorcycle as an economic and versatile tool which could reach a great number of users. We are referring to names such as Soriano, Sanglas, Bejarano, Riera, Giró, Rabassa o Permanyer, who either undertake old projects or simply launch new firms who eventually manage to put the country on two wheels.

The 50's. The prodigious decade

In the fifties, potential ways to open the market appeared in order to end the economic stoppage caused by the self-supplied system. Thanks to the Cold War a “Mutual Cooperation Treaty” was signed with the USA so that Spain received economic aid in exchange for letting the implementation of USA military bases in Spain and thanks to that, although slowly, money starts circulating again with it great need for mobility within the country.

The fifties are therefore the ideal scenario for the proliferation of small industries which also cover the motorbikes sector. The aforementioned pioneers led the way to numerous new brands (over a hundred) which used anything to develop motorcycles. Imported engines, fitted on bicycles chassis, all types of agreements with foreign manufacturers, most of them under a basic technology, terrible industrialisation, together with very low material quality, from the recycling of the old and obsolete military equipment which made a flourishing but short lasting industry.

The 60's. And the 600 Seat finally arrived

After massive implementation of motorcycles, there was a challenge and this was the car industry. The word “car” only circulated among the privileged social classes, still far away from the ordinary worker. In fact, only the Biscuter or the Isetta let us imagine that in future the car would reach all social classes.

That day arrived with the 600 Seat. Thanks to a typical agreement of that time the Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo was created with the purpose to manufacture in our country cars under Fi at license. The first model was the luxurious 1400 but it was not until 1957 when the 600 was launched, the authentic symbol of the ‘Development plan' of the dictator, that the eagerly desired social revolution arrived. Sold at the equivalent of a yearly wage, waiting lists grew every day thus motorcycle was practically forgotten through the tremendous need to climb in the social status. Only the strongest manufactures such as Bultaco, Derbi, OSSA, Montesa, Rieju... survived..

ROAD MOTORCYCLES (15 units)